Face image data processing devices

ABSTRACT

A face image data processing device which processes data on a face image to create the face image suitable for an age and presumes the age of the created face image on the basis of same. In response to designation of data on an age by an age designating unit, respective part images corresponding to the designated age data are read from a storage. A face image composed of a combination of the read part images and suitable for the designated age data is created, and displayed or printed. The age of the created face image is presumed from the created face image by an age presumption section. The presumed age is displayed/printed along with the associated face image.

This application is a Divisional of Ser. No. 08/896,642 filed Jul. 18,1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,171, which is a Divisional of Ser. No.08/749,730 filed Nov. 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,457, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 08/245,464, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to face image data processing deviceswhich create a face image data suitable for an age and presume the ageof a created face image on the basis of same.

Conventionally, a face image creation device is known which selectsdesired patterns of respective parts (for example, eyes, eyebrows,mouth, etc.,) which compose a face and have any respective shapes fromamong a plurality of sets of different patterns for each of the partsprepared beforehand, and combines those selected patterns into a faceimage. Thus, this process requires much time and special skills for thecreation of the face image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a faceimage creation device capable of creating a face image similar to atarget face.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a face imagecreation device capable of creating a desired face image rapidly andeasily.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an agepresuming device capable of presuming the age of a created face image onthe basis of same.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides aface image creation device including: storage means for a face image;age designating means for designating age data on an age; and face imageproducing means for changing the face image stored in said storagemeans, in correspondence to the age data designated by the agedesignating means, to produce a face image corresponding to the agedata. The face image creation device may further include face imageoutputting means, for example, display means or printing means, foroutputting a face image produced by the face image producing means.

Thus, according to the present invention, a face image suitable for adesignated age is created easily and rapidly without requiring anyspecial skills.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides aface image creation device including: face characteristic detectingmeans for detecting a face characteristic from a face image; agepresuming means for performing required inference on the basis of theface characteristic detected by the face characteristic detecting meansand presuming the age of the face image on the basis of the result ofthe inference. The present invention also provides a face image creationdevice further including: output means, for example, display means orprinting means, for outputting age data on the age presumed by the agepresuming means.

Thus, according to the present invention, the age of a face image ispresumed easily and rapidly from the face image without requiring anyspecial skills.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the whole circuit structure of a face image creation deviceaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative arrangement of part patterns of each offaces, data on which is stored in a part pattern ROM.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative part pattern of each of faces, data onwhich is stored, for the respective ages in the corresponding age partpattern ROMs.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative arrangement of part patterns for wrinkles,data on which is stored, in a corrected part pattern ROM.

FIG. 5A shows an illustrative arrangement of data stored at data storagelocations in a work RAM.

FIG. 5B shows an illustrative arrangement of data stored at facecharacteristic data locations in the work RAM.

FIG. 5C shows the relationship between data on face characteristic datastored at face characteristic data locations in the work RAM andcorresponding sexes, parts and ages designated by the facecharacteristic data.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative arrangement of screen data stored in ascreen data ROM.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart indicative of a main program for a face imagecreation process in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart indicative of a characteristic switch interruptroutine.

FIGS. 9A-9D show illustrative screen data.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart indicative of an age switch interrupt routine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart indicative of a cursor switch interrupt routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart indicative of a display switch interrupt routine.

FIGS. 13A-13D each show one example of a face image created for an age.

FIG. 14 shows the whole circuit structure of an age presuming deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an illustrative arrangement of data stored in a work RAMin the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows an illustrative arrangement of data items stored in ascreen data ROM in the second embodiment.

FIGS. 17A-17C each show a membership function ROM used for fuzzyinference in the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart indicative of a main program for a face imagecreation and age presumption process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart indicative of a display switch interrupt routinein the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart indicative of a position correction switchinterrupt routine in the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart indicative of an age presumption switch interruptroutine in the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a fuzzy rule Aoperation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a fuzzy rule Boperation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a fuzzy rule Coperation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a maximum valueoperation process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a barycentercalculation process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 27A shows an illustrative face image under creation.

FIG. 27B shows an illustrative face image after creation.

FIG. 27C shows an illustrative face after creation and actual age data.

FIGS. 27D and 27E show an illustrative face after creation, actual agedata and presumed age data.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withrespect to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]

FIGS. 1-13D show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1shows the whole circuit structure of a face image creation device as thefirst embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the face image creation device includes a CPU 1, acharacteristic switch 2, a cursor switch 3, a display switch 4, an agedata input switch 5, a program ROM 6, a part pattern ROM 7, a work RAM8, a VRAM 9, a corrected part pattern ROM 10, a display 11, and a screendata ROM 12.

The CPU 1 controls the whole face image creation device. When thecharacteristic switch 2, cursor switch 3, display switch 4, and age datainput switch 5 designate face part patterns, characteristics, and anage, the CPU 1 responds to that designation to read and combine data onpatterns of the respective parts of a face from the part pattern ROM 7and the corrected part pattern ROM 10 in accordance with program datastored in the program ROM 6 and part data stored in the work RAM 8 tothereby create the user's or another's face image conforming to thedesignated age.

The characteristic switch 2 is operated to display a screen whichselects data on the sex of a person having a face image (FIG. 9A), ascreen which selects data on face characteristics indicative of thecharacteristics of the respective parts (hair style, contour, eyebrows,eyes, nose, and mouth) of the face (FIGS. 9B, 9C) and a screen whichselects data on the age of the person (FIG. 9D), in order to create theface image.

The cursor switch 3 is operated to select any one from among data on thesex and data on the respective face characteristics of the screen datadisplayed already on the display 11 by the operation of thecharacteristic switch 2, in order to create the face image. Each timethe cursor switch 3 is operated, the cursor K is moved up or down on thescreen of the display 11 to thereby select data corresponding to theposition where the cursor has moved. In the present embodiment, when thecursor switch 3 is operated, one of numerals “01”, “02”, . . . annexedto the corresponding screen data items responds to the operation of thecursor switch 3 to be displayed in a going-on/off manner, as shown inFIGS. 9A-9C. Alternatively, a mouse may be used to select desired datain place of the cursor switch 3.

The display switch 4 is operated to display stored face image data onthe display 11.

The age data input switch 5 is operated to input data on an age whileviewing an age data screen (FIG. 9D) displayed on the display 11 by thecharacteristic switch 2. While in the present embodiment the age dataindicates an actual age, the age data may be replaced with data on thedate of the person's birth, and data on the age of the person anyparticular years ago or hence.

The program ROM 6 stores a control program for the CPU 1, the contentsof which program will be shown later in FIGURES concerned.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the part pattern ROM 7 is composed of aplurality of age part pattern ROMs 7A-7N one for each age. When data onan age is inputted by the age data input switch 5, the corresponding oneof the age part pattern ROMs 7-7N is designated. In this embodiment, asshown in FIG. 3, the age part pattern ROM 7A is for thirty years of age;the age part pattern ROM 7B is for ten years of age; the age partpattern ROM 7C is for forty years of age; and the age part pattern ROM70 is for 65 years of age.

The part pattern ROMs 7A-7N each store data on kinds of part patterns ofeach of the parts of a face image. In the present embodiment, the numberof kinds of parts of the face is N; i.e., N=1 denotes a part “hairstyle” for a face; N=2 denotes a part “contour” of the face; N=3 denotesa part “eyes” in the face; N=4 denotes a part “eyebrows” in the face;N=5 denotes a part “nose” in the face; N=6 denotes a part “mouth” in theface. The present invention is not limited to the example of FIG. 2, butmay include other parts such as a trunk, arms, hands, and legs. The agepart pattern ROMs 7A-7N are prepared at intervals of five years of agein this embodiment, but they may be prepared at intervals of one year ofage.

As shown in FIG. 2, data items on the kinds of part patterns of each ofthe parts are stored in correspondence to data items on the patternnumbers in the part pattern ROM 7. For example, in the case of the part“hair style” for N=1, data items on 50 kinds of different part patternsfor “hair style” are stored beforehand along with the corresponding dataitems on numbers “01”-“50”. The part patterns of the same number in therespective age part pattern ROMs 7A-7N are of the same type. Forexample, the respective part patterns of the same number “01” for thepart “hair style” in FIG. 3 are of the same “parted-at-7:3 (orat-the-side) hair style” type.

Similarly, data items on part patterns of each of other parts “contour”,“eyes”, and “eyebrows” of the face are stored beforehand incorrespondence to data items on pattern numbers “01”-“50”.

The corrected part pattern ROM 10 beforehand stores data on facecharacteristics suitable for the respective ages.

FIG. 4 illustratively shows an arrangement of part patterns for“wrinkles” alone on a face, data on which patterns is stored in thecorrected part pattern ROM 10. The ROM 10 stores as wrinkle partpatterns data on part patterns each having the “number of wrinkles”suitable for an age.

In FIG. 4, the vertical axis shows kinds of wrinkles which include“crow's feet”, “forehead wrinkles”, “cheek wrinkles”, etc., indicativeof the characteristics of each face while the horizontal axis shows dataon ages, which, in this embodiment, increase at intervals of five yearsfrom 30 years of age to 100 years of age.

Beforehand stored in the corrected part pattern ROM 10 are data items on“wrinkle” part patterns where the number of wrinkles correspond withage.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the work RAM 8 is used as a work area when the CPU1 performs various controlling operations. Various data items are storedat respective storage locations corresponding to addresses (OFFSET1+1)to (OFFSET7) in the work RAM 8. More particularly, respective addressdata ADD1-ADD8 to designate selected screen data of FIG. 6 are stored atselected screen locations corresponding to addresses (OFFSET1+1) to(OFFSET1+8). Data items on the positions of the operated cursor switch 3are stored at cursor position locations corresponding to addresses(OFFSET2+1) to (OFFSET2+7). A data item on an age is stored at an agelocation corresponding to an address (OFFSET3).

Data items on face characteristics for the respective parts are storedat face characteristic data locations corresponding to addresses(OFFSET4+1) to (OFFSET4+6). As shown in FIG. 5B, the respective dataitems on the face characteristics are composed of a plurality of bitswhere the most-least significant bits indicate corresponding sex, partnumber, part pattern number and age data items in this order. FIG. 5Cshow the relationship between those sex, part number, part patternnumber and age data items, and image data items on a sex, parts, partpatterns, and an age designated by those corresponding data items.

The sex data items are stored at a sex data location (designated by a)for the most significant bit. It is composed of one bit. As shown inFIG. 5C, when it is “1”, it indicates a male while when it is “0”, itindicates a female.

The part number data item is stored at each of part number locations(designated by b) for the second bit. As shown in FIG. 5C, the partnumber data is selected by the user from among data items on partnumbers “1”-“6” corresponding to six kinds of parts “hair style”,“contour”, . . . .

The part pattern number data item is stored at a part pattern numberlocation (designated by c) for the third bit. The part pattern numberdata item is selected by the user from among data items on the partpattern numbers “01”-“50” in the part pattern ROM 7. For example, asshown in FIG. 5C, if a part pattern for a “thick-haired parted-at-7:3hair style” is selected by the user, data on a part pattern number “01”corresponding to the part pattern is stored.

The age data item is stored at an age location (designated by d) for theleast significant bit. As shown in FIG. 5C, when the age data item is“A”, it indicates thirty years of age (FIG. 3A). When the age data itemis “B”, it indicates ten years of age (FIG. 3B). When the age data itemsare “C”, “D”, . . . they indicate corresponding forty years of age,sixty-five years of age, . . . (FIGS. 3C, 3D).

Address data items for wrinkles on a face: that is, respective crow'sfeet, forehead wrinkles, cheek wrinkles are stored at wrinkle locationscorresponding to addresses (OFFSET5)-(OFFSET7).

As shown in FIG. 6, the screen data ROM pre-stores screen data displayedon the display 11 when a face image is created. The data items in thescreen ROM are designated by respective address data items ADD1-ADD8 forscreen data stored at addresses (OFFSET1+1)(OFFSET1+8) in the work RAM8.

In FIG. 6, a screen data item used for the screen when a sex is selectedis stored at a location corresponding to the address ADD1. As shown inFIG. 9A, a screen which urges the user to designate a sex in response to“sex ?”, “01: male” and “02: female” on the basis of the screen data isdisplayed on the display 11.

In FIG. 6, a screen data item used for the screen when a kind of hairstyle is selected is stored at a location corresponding to address ADD2of FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 9B, a screen which urges the user to selecta kind of hair style on the basis of the screen data item is displayedon the display 11.

Similarly, screen data items used for the screen when the respectiveparts “contour”, “eyes”, “eyebrows”, nose” and mouth” of the face areselected and when age data is input are stored at locationscorresponding to addresses ADD3-ADD8. A screen which urges the user toselect respective parts “contour”, “eyes”, “eyebrows”, nose” and mouth”of the face and to input age data on the basis of the display screendata is displayed on the display 11 (FIGS. 9C, 9D).

The VRAM 9 stores data on the part patterns of a face image in units ofa screen when the face image is created and uses a semiconductor memory,for example, as the VRAM 9.

The display 11 displays a face image, etc., processed under control ofthe CPU 1. The display 11 displays a face image and various data itemswhile delivering various data to/from the VRAM 9 and the CPU 1. It maybe composed of a TV display, a dedicated monitor, a CRT or a LCD.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.

In this embodiment, two different methods of creating and displaying aface image can be performed. The first method includes the steps ofinputting any age data by the operation of the age data input switch 5,selecting a part pattern of each of the parts of the face designated bythe operation of the cursor switch 3 from among a plurality of partpatterns, and combining those selected part patterns into a face imagesuitable for the input age data, and displaying the face image.

The second method includes the steps of inputting age data differentfrom any age data in accordance with which a face image has beencreated, as mentioned above, replacing at least one of the alreadycreated part patterns with a related part pattern or a further partpattern having the same characteristic as the related part pattern inaccordance with the input different age data, changing the positions ofpatterns of the part “eyes”, etc., adding part patterns such as a partpattern “wrinkles” to those part patterns as required to automaticallycreate a face image suitable for the different age data, and displayingthat face image.

The respective steps of the method of creating a face image suitable fora particular age will be described below. FIG. 7 is a flowchartindicative of a main program for a face image creation process. When theprogram for this process starts, initialization is performed at step S10in which the various registers and VRAM 9 are cleared; subroutines areinitialized; and the flags are reset. As shown in FIG. 7, at the sametime, various data items are stored as initial data at storage locationscorresponding to addresses (OFFSET1+1)-(OFFSET7) in the work RAM 8.

That is, 8 kinds of address data items ADD1-ADD8 for designation ofrespective screen data items are stored at selected image locationscorresponding to addresses (OFFSET1+1)-(OFFSET1+8). Position data itemscorresponding to the beforehand initially set positions of the cursor Kare stored at cursor position locations corresponding to addresses(OFFSET2+1)-(OFFSET2+7). An age data item initially set beforehand (inthe present embodiment, beforehand initially set age data itemcorresponding to 30 years of age in this embodiment) is stored at an agelocation corresponding to address (OFFSET3). Face characteristic dataitems on the respective parts are stored at face characteristic datalocations corresponding to addresses (OFFSET4+1)-(OFFSET4+6). The facecharacteristic data is composed of sex, part number, part pattern numberand age data items which are beforehand initially set, so that thoserespective data are stored. In the case of this embodiment, data storedat the face characteristic data locations when the initial setting ismade includes sex data which is “01” indicative of a male; part numberdata which is “1” indicative of a hair style; part pattern number datawhich is “01” indicative of part pattern number data; and age dataindicative of “thirty years of age”.

Address data items each to designate data items on crow's feet, cheekwrinkles, and forehead wrinkles suitable for, for example, thirty yearsof age, are stored at wrinkle data locations corresponding to addresses(OFFSET5)-(OFFSET7).

At step S12 the value of a pointer M1 register 15 provided in the CPU 1is cleared to “0”. The pointer M1 register 15 is used to designate andinput a total of 8 data items on sex, parts indicative of the respectivecharacteristics of a face, and an age.

At step S14 the contents of the VRAM 9 are displayed on the display 11.Data items on the respective part patterns stored in the part patternROM 7 are read on the basis of the sex, part number, part pattern numberand age data items as the face characteristic data stored at present inthe work RAM 8.

More specifically, one of the age part pattern ROMs 7A-7N is selected onthe basis of sex and age data items, and data items on the patterns ofparts stored in one of the age part pattern ROMs 7A-7N are read on thebasis of part number and part pattern number data items. Data on a faceimage composed of a combination of the part patterns, data on which hasbeen read, is stored in the VRAM 9, the contents of which data aredisplayed on the display 11. Thus, a face image based on the respectivedata items set initially in the work RAM 8 at step S10 is displayed onthe display 11 at the time of the initial setting; a half-finished faceimage is displaced during formation of the face image; and a finishedface image after creation is displayed on the display 11 after creationof the face image.

Thereafter, the step S14 is iterated to perform a required process onthe basis of an interrupt signal from a respective one of the switches.Processes for selection of the respective patterns are all performed ininterrupt routines indicated below.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart indicative of a characteristic switch interruptroutine, which is executed each time the character switch 2 is operated.Each time the character switch 2 is operated, the contents of the screendata are changed sequentially as shown in FIGS. 9A-9D. The user selectsface characteristic data items on a sex, hair style, eyes, eyebrows, . .. , and inputs an age data item while viewing the screen of FIGS. 9A-9D.

When the characteristic switch 2 is first operated, the value of thepointer M1 register 15 is incremented by “1” at step S20. At step S22 itis determined whether the value of the register 15 is “9” since the facecharacteristic data is composed of a total of eight data items on onesex, six kinds of parts and one age.

When it is determined at step S22 that the value of the pointer M1register 15 is not equal to “9”, control passes to step S26, where imagedata read from screen data ROM 12, using as the starting address data ataddress (M1+OFFSET1) in the work RAM 8, is transferred to the VRAM 9.

When it is determined at step S22 that the current value of the pointerM1 register 15 is equal to “1”, control passes to step S26, where screendata read from the work RAM 8, using as the start address data ataddress (M1+OFFSET1) in the work RAM 8, is transferred to the VRAM 9. Inthis case, data at address (M1+OFFSET1) in the work RAM 8 is ADD1, thecontents of which are sex selection screen data, as shown in FIG. 6.Thus, a screen which urges the user to designate a sex in response to“sex ?” and designated one of “01: a male” and “02: a female” on thebasis of sex selection screen data is displayed on the display 11, asshown in FIG. 9A.

When the characteristic switch 2 is again operated, the value of thepointer M1 register 15 is “2” at step S20. Thus, since at step S22 it isdetermined that the current value of the register 15 is “2”, at step S26screen data (used on the screen when a hair style is selected)corresponding to address ADD2 of FIG. 6 is transferred to the VRAM 9.Thus, a display screen which urges the user to select a hair style inaccordance with “hair style ?”, “01: a thick-haired parted-at-7:3 hairstyle”, “02: thin-haired parted-at-7:3 hair style”, . . . on the basisof the screen data is displayed on the display 11, as shown in FIG. 9B.Each time the characteristic switch 2 is operated sequentially, at stepS20 the value of the register 15 is sequentially incremented. As aresult, when it is determined at step S22 that the value of the register15 is “9”, control passes to step S24, where the value of the resister15 is returned to “1”. Thereafter, control passes to step S26, where thescreen data stored in the screen data ROM 12 is again transferred to theVRAM 9, using as the starting address data at address (1+OFFSET1) in thework RAM 8. Thereafter, each time the characteristic switch 2 isoperated, the value of the register 15 is incremented by one such thatthe screen data at (M1+OFFSET1) is transferred to the VRAM 9 to therebydisplay that screen data on the display 11.

In this way, each time the characteristic switch 2 is operated, thescreen data is sequentially changed (FIGS. 9A-9D). As a result, the userselects or inputs sex data, data on face characteristics such as hairstyle, eyes, and eyebrows and age data while viewing a selected screenchanged sequentially.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the age switch interrupt routine. In thisprocess, actual age data is stored in the Y-register 14 of CPU 1 in stepS50. Then, the Y-register data is written at an age data locationcorresponding to the address (OFFSET 3) in RAM 8, in step S52. At stepS54 the value of the pointer M1 register 15 is set at “1”. In this case,the value of the register 15 corresponds to the kind of each of theparts, for example, the pointer M1=1 corresponds to a hair style; M1=2corresponds to a contour; M1=3 corresponds to eyes; . . . .

Control then passes to step S56, where it is determined whether thecurrent value of the register 15 is in a range of “1”-“3” or whether itindicates a routine to designate three different parts including a hairstyle, a contour, and eyes because in the present embodiment only facecharacteristic data on those three parts are required to be changeddepending on age and face characteristic data on other parts are notrequired to be changed in accordance with an age.

When at step S56 it is determined to be YES or it is determined that thevalue of the register 15 is in a range of “1”-“3” or that it indicates aroutine to designate a face characteristic data item on any of the hairstyle, contour and eyes, control passes to step S58, where age data(input actual-age data) in the y-register 14 is converted to addressdata (corresponding to age location d of FIG. 5B) used to designate onepart pattern in a respective one of the age part pattern ROMs 7A-7Nwhich compose the part pattern ROM 7, using a table provided for a partof a kind designated by the value of the register 15. For example, whendata on ten years of age is stored in the y-register 14, it is convertedto address data used to designate pattern of a part “hair style” in theage pattern ROM 7B for ten years of age.

At step S60 address data converted in accordance with the input age datais stored at an age location d corresponding to (OFFSET4+1) of FIG. 5A.

Similarly, if the values of the register 15 are “2”, “3”, they are forexecution of a routine to designate face characteristic data items onthe “contour”, “eyes”, respectively, of the face. Thus, age data itemsto designate part patterns of the “contour”, “eyes” suitable for the ageare stored at age locations d of corresponding addresses “OFFSET4 +2”,“OFFSET4+3”.

At step S61 the value of the register 15 is incremented. As a result, atstep S62 it is determined whether the value of the register 15 is “7” orwhether selection of all the face characteristic data items on the sixparts; the hair style, contour, eyes, . . . , has been completed. UnlessM1=“7”, control returns to step S56, where the same looping operation isiterated.

When at step S56 it is determined that the value of the register 15 isnot in the range of “1”-“3”, or that the value of the register 15 is ina range of “4”-“6”, it indicates a routine to designate facecharacteristic data on parts other than the hair, contour, and eyes or aroutine to process face characteristic data on parts which are notrequired to be changed in correspondence to the input age data. Thus,control passes to step S64, where a predetermined value is stored at anage location d of address ((OFFSET4+M1=4, 5 or 6)) of FIG. 5A. In thecase of this embodiment, address data to designate a part pattern otherthan the hair style, contour and eyes, for example, of thirty years ofage is stored as a predetermined value at the age location d.

The reason why the predetermined value is stored is to fix at a givenstate data items on face characteristics on parts other than the hairstyle, contour and eyes. For example, when the value of the register 15is “4”, which indicates a routine to designate face characteristic dataitems on eyebrows, address data to designate a part pattern (forexample, an eyebrows “01” in the age part pattern ROM 7A for thirtyyears of age in FIG. 2) corresponding to a part pattern for “eyebrow”having a predetermined shape stored in the age part pattern ROM 7A forthirty years of age set initially beforehand is stored at an agelocation d, in spite of the input age data being large or small.

At step S61 the value of the register 15 is incremented to make thedetermination at step S62. In this way, the looping operation isiterated until M=“7”, at which time control passes to step S66, whereaddress data stored at addresses (OFFSET5 and OFFSET 6) in the work RAM8 are changed in accordance with the contents of the y-register 14.Stored at those addresses are address data to select desired “wrinkles”part patterns from among face's “wrinkles” part patterns stored in thecorrected part pattern ROM 10 to be described later. Changing theaddress data in accordance with the contents of the y-register 14 is tochange the respective address data items stored at OFFSET5-7 toaddresses corresponding to age data stored in the y-register 12 toselect a part pattern “wrinkles” suitable for an age. When the processat step S66 is completed, the present routine is terminated.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart indicative of a cursor switch interrupt routine.The cursor switch 3 is operated to select sex data, face characteristicdata, etc., when a desired face image is created by a combination ofdesired part patterns. When the cursor switch 3 is operated, controlpasses to the cursor switch interrupt routine. Then, at step S80 it isdetermined, for example, in accordance with the value of a display flagin the CPU 1 whether screen data which urges the user to select a sex orrespective parts of FIGS. 9A-9D is now under display. This determinationrelates to whether some screen is displayed on the display 11. If aselected picture is not displayed at present, it is unnecessary todisplay the position of the cursor K. When it is determined that noselected screen data is displayed, the current routine returns.

If it is determined that the selected picture data is under display whenthe cursor switch 3 is operated, control passes to the next step S82,where data to select a sex and a part pattern number set at present ataddress (M1+OFFSET2) in the work RAM 8 is changed in accordance with theposition of the cursor K of the cursor switch 3 operated this time.

For example, when it is determined that M=1, “sex” data stored at(OFFSET2+1) is changed in accordance with the position of the cursor Kof the cursor switch 3 operated this time. Thus, if the position of thecursor K of the cursor switch 3 operated this time is changed from “02”to “01” in the state where “sex” selection screen of FIG. 9A isdisplayed, the sex data is changed to “01 (male)” in accordance with theposition of the “01”. If the position of the cursor K of the cursorswitch 3 is changed from “01” to “02”, sex data is changed to “02(female)” in accordance with the position of the “02”.

When it is determined that M=2, data (part pattern number) on the “hairstyle” stored at address (OFFSET2+2) is changed in accordance with theposition of the cursor K of the cursor switch 3 operated this time.Thus, if the position of the cursor K of the cursor switch 3 operatedthis time is set at one of “01”, “02”, . . . when “hair style selectionscreen” of FIG. 9B is displayed, data on a part pattern number stored ataddress (OFFSET2+2) is changed in accordance with that position to apart pattern number corresponding to the appropriate one of a“thin-haired parted-at-7:3 hair style”, “thick-haired parted-at-7:3 hairstyle”, . . .

At step S84 the displayed position of the cursor K on the display 11 ischanged in accordance with the change of the data mentioned above.

At step S86 it is determined whether the value of the register 15 is “1”or it is determined whether the screen data is for determination of asex. As a result, when M=“1” is determined, control passes to step S88,where it is determined whether data at address (OFFSET2+1) indicates amale.

If so, at step S90 the value of a pointer N is set at “1” in order tosequentially increment the value of the pointer from a location for apart “hair style” corresponding to address (OFFSET4+1) which storesaddress data indicative of face characteristic data to a location foranother part.

At step S92 “1” indicative of a “male” is set at the position of themost significant bit (at a sex data location designated by a) of theface characteristic data (hair style) corresponding to an address(OFFSET4+1).

At step S94 the value of the pointer N is incremented to N=2. At stepS96 it is then determined whether N=7 in order to set the MSB of theface characteristic data at “1” up to the MSB of the face characteristicdata at the largest address (OFFSET4+6) in an area which stores addressdata indicative of the face characteristic data. Since N is not 7 now,control returns to step S92 to iterate a process similar to thatmentioned above. Thus, Since N=2 now, the MSB of the data items ataddress (OFFSET4+2) is set sequentially at “1”. Similarly, the MSBs ofthe respective data at addresses (OFFSET4+3), . . . (OFFESET4+6) are setat “1”. When N=7 at step S96, the current cursor switch interruptroutine is terminated and control returns to the main program.

At step S88 when the determination is NO, or it is determined that thedata at address (OFFSET2+M1) does not represent a male, but “02” whichindicates a female, control passes to step S98, where the pointer N isset at “1”.

At step S100 the MSB of the data at address (OFFSET4+N) is set at “0”.Since N=“1” this time, first, the MSB of the data at address (OFFSET4+1)is set at “0”. Then at step S102 the pointer N is incremented.

Thereafter, similarly, the MSBs of the respective data items ataddresses (OFFSET4+3) to (OFFSET4+6) are sequentially set at “0”.

When N=7 at step S104, the current cursor switch interrupt routine isterminated and control returns to the main program.

When at step S86 it is determined that the value of the register 15 isnot “1”, control passes to step S106, where the data at address(OFFSET2+M1) is transferred to a part pattern number location c wheredata on the part pattern number of FIG. 5B is stored in an areaindicated by address ((OFFSET4+(M−1)). Thus, data on a part patternnumber corresponding to the data on the position of the cursor Kdesignated by the cursor switch 3 is transferred to a part patternnumber location c for the face characteristic data storage.

After step S106, the cursor switch interrupt routine is terminated andcontrol returns to the main program.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart indicative of a display switch interrupt routine.When the display switch 4 is operated to display a face image or aselected screen on the display 11, the display switch interrupt routinestarts.

In this case, first at step S150, the display flag is inverted, whichoccurs each time the display switch 4 is operated.

At step S152 it is determined whether the display flag is “1”. If not,control passes to step S154, where M1 is set at “1” and screen datawhich uses as the starting address the data stored at address(OFFSET1+1) is transferred to the VRAM 9. Since data at address(OFFSET1+1) in the work RAM 8 is ADD1, and screen data corresponding tothe address ADD1 is for sex selection, the transferred image data isfirst displayed on the sex selection screen display 11 as shown in FIG.9A on the basis of the sex selection screen data in correspondence tothe address ADD1. The user operates the cursor switch 3 to designate oneof “01: a male” and “02: a female” in accordance with the sex selectionscreen. After step S154, control returns to the main program.

When it is determined that the display flag is “1” at step S152, theresult of the determination is YES and control passes to step S156,where the value of the pointer M1 register 15 is set at “1”. The valueof the register 15 corresponds to the kind of a part. For example, thepointer M1=1 corresponds to hair style; M1=2 corresponds to contour;M1=3 corresponds to eyes; . . . At step S158 it is determined whetherthe value of the register 15 is “3”. M1=“3” designates facecharacteristic data for “eyes”. The reason why it is determined at stepS158 whether the value of the register 15 is “3” is that the position ofthe part “eyes” alone is required to be moved up or down relative to thewhole face in accordance with the magnitude of the value of the inputage data. If the part “eyes” is combined with other part patternswithout the position of the part “eyes” being moved up or down, a faceimage corresponding to a designated age cannot be necessarily created.First, since M1=1, it is determined that the M=1 indicates no routine todesignate face characteristic data for the part “eyes”. Thus, controlpasses to step S160, where the data in the part pattern ROM 7 designatedby the address data stored at present at address (OFFSET4+1) or imagedata read, using as the starting address the face characteristic datafor the part “hair style” of all the face characteristic data, istransferred to the VRAM 9. Therefore, a part pattern for a hair stylecorresponding to the face characteristic data for the part “hair style”is displayed on the display 11.

At step S162 the value of the pointer M1 register 15 is incremented. Atstep S164 it is determined whether the value of the register 15 is “7”or whether selection of all the face characteristic data for all the sixparts “hair style”, “contour”, “eyes”, . . . has been ended. UnlessM1=“7”, control returns to step S158, where the same looping operationis iterated. When at step S158 M=“3”, control passes to step S166, whereface characteristic data for the eyes is displayed. At step S166 agedata at address OFFSET3 is transferred to the y-register in the CPU 1and stored there, and age indicated by data in the y-register 14 isdisplayed on the display 11.

At step S168 screen data or data on the pattern of the part “eyes” isread, using as the starting address face characteristic data for the“eyes” stored at address (OFFSET4+3). At step S170 the position of theread pattern of the part “eyes” on the y-coordinate is changed to aposition in accordance with the value of age data in the y-register 14and data on the pattern of the part “eyes” whose position is changed istransferred to the VRAM 9. Therefore, data on the pattern of the part“eyes” which has that changed position is recorded in the VRAM 9.

As a result, a face image having the pattern of the part “eyes” in theface image suitable for the designated age is displayed on the display11.

An age-dependent eye position table indicative of larger and smaller agevalues and corresponding upper and lower eye (y-coordinate) positions isstored beforehand in the CPU 1. Generally, as the age increases, theposition of the eyes relative to the whole face tends to riseaccordingly. For example, in the case of a face of ten years of ageshown in FIG. 13B, the position E2 of eyes relative to the whole face issubstantially at one third of the length of the face from its lower end.When the age is, for example, thirty, the position E1 of the eyesrelative to the face of FIG. 13A is substantially at the midpoint of thelength of the face. Values or data indicative of the positions of theeyes based on such tendency are stored on the age-dependent eyesposition table.

According to this embodiment, a combined image with eyes whose positionis corrected up or down relative to its whole face in accordance withthe age is displayed.

After step S170, control passes to step S162, where the value of theregister 15 is incremented to designate the next face characteristicdata.

In this way, the above process is iterated in the range of “1”-“6” ofthe register 15 value. As a result, when M1=“7” at step S164, controlpasses to step S172.

In the processes at step S172 and subsequent steps, a process for addinga pattern of a part “wrinkles” suitable for an age is executed. First,at step S172 it is determined whether the value of the y-register 14 issmaller than “35” or whether the designated age is less than 35 years.If so, it is regarded that no “wrinkles” are required to be formed atthe “eye corners”, and on the “forehead” and “cheeks” on the face undercreation and the current routine is terminated. Thus, control returns tothe main program (FIG. 13A).

When it is determined at step S172 that the value of the y-register 14is not less than “35” and that the input age data is not less than 35years, control passes to step S174, where data on a pattern of the part“crow's feet” which is screen data is read from the corrected partpattern ROM 10, using the starting address of the data stored at addressOFFSET5. At step S176 the position of the read part pattern of the part“crow's feet” on the (vertical) y-coordinate is changed to another valuein accordance with age data which is the contents of the y-register 14.Data on the part pattern for “crow's feet”, the y-coordinate position ofwhich has been changed, is transferred to the VRAM 9. Thus, a face imageis created which has a pattern of a part “crow's feet” which has thenumber of wrinkles suitable for an age between 35 and 45 years of ageand which has the changed position suitable for that age, and isdisplayed on the display 11.

Generally, as the age increases, the position of the eyes tends to moveupward in proportion to that age in the face. The position of possiblecrow's feet is required to be moved upward in correspondence to themovement of the eyes. In the present embodiment, as mentioned above, aprocess for that purpose is performed to thereby provide a face imagehaving the position of eyes, the number of crow's feet, and the positionof the crow's feet suitable for the designated age. The pattern of thepart “crow's feet” is moved up or down in accordance with a designatedage to a (y-coordinate) position where the pattern of the part “crow'sfeet” has the same height as the part “eyes”, and data on the pattern ofthe part “crow's feet” is stored in the VRAM 9 and displayed on thedisplay 11.

Control then passes to step 178, where it is determined whether thevalue of the y-register 14 is less than “45” or whether the designatedage is between the thirty-five and forty-five years. In the case of thisage bracket, processes for adding the “crow's feet” as well as “foreheadwrinkles” are performed. When YES is determined at step S178, or it isdetermined that the designated age is less than 45, the current routineis terminated and control returns to the main program.

When it is determined that the input age is between forty-five andfifty-five years, control passes to step S180, where screen data (on thecrow's feet and forehead wrinkles) read from the corrected part patternROM 10, using the data stored at addresses (OFFSET5), and (OFFSET6) asthe starting addresses, are transferred to the VRAM 9. Thus, a faceimage having part patterns for the crow's feet and forehead wrinkles therespective numbers of which depend on an age between the forty-five andfifty-five years is displayed on the display 11. Generally, as the ageincreases, the crow's feet and forehead wrinkles tend to appear.According to this embodiment, a face image is created and displayedwhich has crow's feet and forehead wrinkles suitable for the age.

Control then passes to step S182, where it is determined whether thevalue of the y-register 14 is less than “55” or whether the age the dataon which is input is between fifty-five and one hundred years. When YESis determined or the age data on which has been input is determined tobe less than fifty-five years at step S182, the current routine isterminated and control returns to the main program. If the age isdetermined to be between fifty-five and one hundred years, controlpasses to step S184, where screen data (on the crow's feet, and foreheadand cheek wrinkles) read from the corrected part pattern ROM 10, usingas the starting addresses data stored at addresses (OFFSET5), (OFFSET6)and (OFFSET7) is transferred to the VRAM 9. Thus, a face image which hasa part pattern for the “cheek wrinkles” the number of which depends onan age between fifty-five and one hundred years is displayed on thedisplay 11. Generally, as the age increases, the crow's feet, andforehead and cheek wrinkles tend to appear. According to the presentembodiment, a face image is created and displayed which has crow's feet,forehead and cheek wrinkles suitable for an age.

After step S182 the current routine is terminated and control return tothe main program.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the cursorswitch 3 is operated to designate face characteristic data, and the agedata input switch 5 is operated to input age data, for example, onthirty years of age, a part pattern corresponding to the age data on thethirty years is selected for each of the parts of the face from amongthe part patterns in the part pattern ROM 7A, and a face image composedof a combination of the selected part patterns is created. As a result,as shown in FIG. 13A, a face image F1 suitable for the thirty years ofage is displayed on the display 11.

Thereafter, when the age data input switch 5 is operated to change theage data from data on thirty years of age, for example, to data on tenyears of age, the pattern of the part “eyes” of the respective partpatterns which compose the face image of thirty years of age is moved toa downward position depending on the age of ten years and data on theeye pattern at the downward position is stored in the VRAM 9. Therespective part patterns of the hair style, contour, etc.; under displayat present are replaced with patterns of the part “hair style”,“contour”, . . . depending on the age data on ten years of age and dataon the resulting pattern data is stored in the VRAM 9. Thus, a faceimage F2 suitable for the age data on ten years is created automaticallyand displayed on the display 11, as shown in FIG. 13B.

When the age data input switch 5 is operated to change the age data fromage data on ten years to age data on forty years, the position of thepattern of the part “eyes” is changed to an upward position among therespective part pattern of the current face image for ten years of ageand data on the resulting face image is stored in the VRAM 9. Therespective part patterns including as hair style, contour, etc., underdisplay at present are replaced with part patterns of a hair style, acontour, etc., depending on data on the changed age of “40” and data onthe resulting face image is stored in the VRAM 9. In addition to thepattern of the crow's feet, a pattern of the part “forehead wrinklessuitable for the age of forty years is added and data on the resultingface image is stored in the VRAM 9. The eye corners are moved to theupward changed position of the pattern of the part “eyes”. Thus, a faceimage suitable for data on the age of forty years is createdautomatically and is displayed as F3 on the display 11.

When the age data input switch 5 is operated to change the age data todata on an increased age of sixty-five years, for example, therespective part patterns of the face are changed to corresponding onessuitable for that age, and “crow's feet”, and “forehead wrinkles” and“cheek wrinkles” are added. As a result, a face image F4 isautomatically created and displayed which is suitable for a face ofsixty-five years of age, as shown in FIG. 13D.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a face image suitablefor the designated age is created rapidly and easily without requiringany special skills to create the face image.

According to the present embodiment, a face image suitable for adesignated age is created on the basis of a face image havingcharacteristics of the current user's or another person. Therefore, forexample, a face image in the past or future can be easily created on thebasis of that current face image. Thus, such face image can bepredicted.

While in the present embodiment creation of a male face image has beenillustrated, a female face image suitable for a designated age iscreated automatically in an operation similar to that mentioned in theformation of the male face image. A face image of an animal suitable forits age may be created in addition to the formation of a human faceimage suitable for his age. While in the present embodiment a face imagesuitable for his age is displayed on the display 11, the face image maybe printed on a label tape or regular paper, for example, by a printer13, as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the present embodiment, at step S50 actual agedata, for example, of “10” indicative of ten years of age is input bythe age data input switch 5 to and stored in the y-register 14 of theCPU 1. While at step S52 the age data in the y-register is written at anage data location corresponding to the address (OFFSET3) in the work RAM8 and a face image suitable for that age data is created on the basis ofthe written data on the actual age, data on the date of a person's birthor past/future data on a person's age any years ago or hence may beinput by the operation of the age input switch 5 in place of the actualage data.

More particularly, arrangement may be such that when a person's faceimage is created on the basis of the data on the date of his birth, orthe data on his age in the past/future, his age at present or at anyparticular time in the past or future is calculated on the basis of dataon the current date and time clocked by a clock 13A and the input dataon the date of his birth or the past/future data, as shown in FIG. 1. Atstep S50 the calculated data on his age is stored in the y-register 14.At step S52 data on his age which is the contents of the y-register iswritten at an age data location corresponding to address (OFFSET3) inthe work RAM 8, and a corresponding face image is created and displayedon the basis of the written data on his actual age.

Arrangement may be such that, for example, data on a face image createdafter the series of steps S10-S14 is stored in the VRAM 9; age datainput and stored in the y-register 14 is updated sequentially with alapse of the current time clocked by the clock 13A; and data on the faceimage stored in the VRAM 9 is changed sequentially on the basis of theupdated age data to thereby create a face image corresponding to thecurrent time.

According to the present embodiment, when data on an age is designated,data on patterns of the respective parts corresponding to that data isread and combined into a face image automatically. Therefore, a faceimage suitable for the designated age is created rapidly and easilywithout requiring any special skills.

According to the present embodiment, after a first face image suitablefor a designated age is created on the basis of data on the designatedage and input face characteristic data. a second face image related tothe first face image and suitable for a different age is createdautomatically on the basis of data on a second designated age differentfrom the first designated age. Thus, for example, a face imagined orpredicted in the past or future related to the current face image iscreated easily and rapidly on the basis of the current face image.

[Second Embodiment]

FIG. 14 shows a whole circuit structure of the second embodiment. Thesame element of the first and second embodiments is designated by thesame reference numeral and further detailed description thereof will beomitted.

In FIG. 14, an age presuming device of the second embodiment is providedwith a CPU 1, a characteristic switch 2, a cursor switch 3, a displayswitch 4, an age data input switch 5, a program ROM 6, a part patternROM 7, a work RAM 8, a VRAM 9, a display 11, an image data ROM 12, aposition correction switch 16, an age presumption switch 17, and amembership function ROM 22.

CPU 1 functions to control the whole device. In this embodiment, whenthe characteristic switch 2, cursor switch 3, display switch 4, age datainput switch 5, position correction switch 16, and age presumptionswitch 17 are operated, CPU 1 reads data items on corresponding partpatterns from the part pattern ROM 7, etc., in accordance with programdata stored in the program ROM 6 in response to the operation of suchswitches and combines them to create a face image. CPU 1 performs fuzzyinference on the basis of the created face image in conformity topredetermined fuzzy rules and performs an age presumption process forpresuming the age of that image on the basis of the result of theinference.

The part pattern ROM 7 stores a plurality of part patterns or images ofeach of the parts of a face image like the part pattern ROM 7 of FIGS. 2and 3.

As shown in FIG. 15, the work RAM 8 is used as a work area in thecontrol of CPU 1 like the work RAM 8 of FIG. 5A.

As shown in FIG. 16, the screen data ROM 12 beforehand stores variousscreen data items displayed on the display 11 when a face image iscreated, like the image data ROM 12 of FIG. 6.

The position correction switch 16 is operated to correct the respectivepositions of the part patterns of a desired face image to be created andis composed, for example, of an up and a down type switch.

The age presumption switch 17 is operated to presume the age of acreated face image.

The membership function ROM 22 stores tables FS, FM, FL, EL, EM, EH, YY,YM, and YO related to corresponding membership functions of FIGS.17A-17C. FIGS. 17A and 17B show the corresponding membership functionsused in the protases of fuzzy rules A-C to be described later. That is,FIGS. 17A and 17B show the corresponding membership functions on theaspect ratio of a face and on the position of the eyes of the face. FIG.17C shows a membership function related to an age which is a fuzzyoutput used in the apodoses of the fuzzy rules A-C.

The respective meanings of the tables related to the membershipfunctions of the respective FIGURES are as follows:

FS: “The aspect ratio of a face is small”;

FM: “The aspect ratio of a face is medium”;

FL: “The aspect ratio of a face is large”;

EL: “The position of eyes is low”;

EM: “The position of eyes is medium”;

EH: “The position of eyes is high”;

YY: “The face is young-aged”;

YM: “The face is middle-aged”

YO: “The face is old-aged”

“The face is middle-aged” is predetermined in accordance with a person'sbracket as a target.

Fuzzy rules about an age presumption process for presuming the age of aface performed by the operation of the age presumption switch 17 will bedescribed below.

While, generally, a fuzzy rule is expressed in a so-called “IF, THEN”format, the following three rules are adopted in the present embodiment:

Rule A: IF the aspect of a face=FL and the position of the eyes=EL, THENthe fuzzy output=YY (the face image is young-aged). The fuzzy rule Aimplies that “If the aspect ratio of a face is large and the position ofits eyes is low, the face is young-aged”.

Rule B: IF the aspect of a face=FM and the position of the eyes=EM, THENthe fuzzy output=YM (the face is middle-aged). The fuzzy rule B impliesthat “If the aspect ratio of a face is medium and the position of itseyes is medium”, the face is medium-aged”.

Rule C: IF the aspect of a face=FS and the position of the eyes=EH, THENthe fuzzy output=YO (the face is old-aged). The fuzzy rule C impliesthat “If the aspect ratio of a face is small and the position of itseyes is high”, the face is old-aged”.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described next. FIG. 18is a flowchart indicative of a main program for a face imagecreation/age presumption process.

In order to create a desired face image, an initial setting operationsimilar to that of the main routine of FIG. 7 is first performed (seestep S10 of FIG. 7). The pointer M is then cleared to “0” (see step S12of FIG. 7). The contents of VRAM 9 are displayed on the display 11 (seestep S14 of FIG. 7). Thus, for example, a face image under creation (seeFIG. 27A) and a face image after creation (see FIG. 27B) as well aspresumed age data presumed on the basis of the result of fuzzy inferencein the second embodiment and actual age data keyed in by the user aredisplayed on the display 11 (see FIGS. 27D and 27E). Thereafter, controlis on standby at step S14 of FIG. 7. Required process steps are thenperformed on the basis of interrupt signals from the respectiveswitches: characteristic switch 2, cursor switch 3, display switch 4,age switch 5, position correction switch 16 and age presumption switch17 (The last two of those switches are used additionally in theembodiment).

Since flowcharts indicative of a characteristic switch interrupt routineand a cursor switch interrupt routine in the second embodiment are thesame as those flowcharts indicative of the corresponding routines (FIGS.19 and 22) in the first embodiment, further description thereof will beomitted and flowcharts will be described below which are indicative ofcorresponding process routines which are a display switch interruptroutine, a position correction switch interrupt routine and an agepresumption switch interrupt routine, which are different from theprocess routines employed in the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart indicative of the display switch interruptroutine. When the display switch 4 is first operated, control passes tothe display switch interrupt routine, where at step S150 the displayflag is inverted, which occurs each time the display switch 4 isoperated.

At step S152 it is determined whether the display flag is “1”. If not,control branches from step S152 to step S154, where screen data istransferred to VRAM 9, using as the starting address data stored ataddress (OFFSET1+M1). In this case, if M=1, the transferred data is sexkind selection display screen data corresponding to ADD1 which is dataat address (1+OFFSET1) in the work RAM 8. Thus, a sex selection screen(see FIG. 9A) is displayed on the display 11. The user operates thecursor switch 3 in accordance with the screen to designate one of a maleand a female. After step S154, control returns to the main program.

When the display switch 4 is again operated, the result of thedetermination at step S152 is YES and control passes to step S156, wherethe pointer M1 is returned to “1”.

The pointer M1 expresses the following. M1=1 expresses sex; M1=2 a hairstyle; M1=3 a contour; M1=4 eyes, . . . Thus, at step S158 screen datais transferred to VRAM 9 using as the starting address data stored ataddress (M1+OFFSET4) in the work RAM 8. In this case, the screen data,using as the starting address the data stored at address (OFFSET4+M1) isface characteristic data (on a sex, and pattern Nos. of parts “hairstyle”, “contour”, “eyes”, . . . Thus, each time M1 is incremented atstep S160, the corresponding face characteristic data items (on a sexand patterns Nos. indicative of the respective parts “hair style”,“contour”, “eyes”, . . . ) are read sequentially. Thus, data items onpart patterns corresponding to respective part pattern numbersindicative of the parts “hair style”, “contour”, “eyes” . . . of theface characteristic data are read sequentially from the part pattern ROM7 and transferred to VRAM 9. Thus, as shown in FIG. 27A, a face image G1composed of a part pattern of a “hair style” is first displayed on thedisplay 11. Part patterns of “contour”, “eyes”, “eyebrows”, “nose”, and“mouth” are combined sequentially with the first face image G1 which iscomposed of the part pattern of the “hair style”. As a result, a faceimage G2 composed of a combination of all the part patterns is displayedon the display 11, as shown in FIG. 27B.

At steps S50 and S52 of FIG. 10 when the user operates the age switch 5before or after creation of the face image G2, actual age data (in thiscase, data “aged 30”) is stored at address (OFFSET3) in the work RAM 8.If the actual age data has been stored during or after creation of theface image G2, it is read out and transferred to VRAM 9. Thus, the faceimage G2 and the actual age data z are displayed on the display 11, asshown in FIG. 27C.

At step S160 the value of the pointer M1 is incremented sequentially,during which it is determined at step S162 whether the pointer M1 is “7”or whether selection of face characteristic data about all the six parts“hair style” to “mouth” of the face has been completed. Unless M1=“7”,all the face characteristic data has not been read out. Thus, controlreturns to step S158, where a similar looping operation is iterated.

When the above process is iterated in a range of “1”-“6” of the pointerM1 until M1=“7” at step S162, this routine is ended and control returnsto the main program.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart indicative of a position correction switchinterrupt routine for correction of the position of the eyes. When theposition correction switch 16 is first operated, control passes to theposition correction switch interrupt routine. Thus, at step S200 it isdetermined whether the display flag is “1”. As mentioned above, thedisplay flag is inverted each time the display switch 4 is operated.

When at step S200 it is determined that the display flag is not “1”, itis determined that no face image is displayed on the display 11. Thus,the current routine is terminated and control returns to the mainprogram. When the display flag is determined to be “1”, it is determinedthat the face image has been displayed. Thus, control passes to stepS202, where it is determined whether the operation of the positioncorrection switch 16 raises the position of a part pattern. Since inthis embodiment the position correction switch 16 is composed of the upswitch and the down switch, it is determined in this case whether the upswitch has peen depressed. If not, it is determined that the down switchhas been depressed and control then passes to step S204.

At step S204 the part pattern No. of “eyes” which is screen data isread, using as an address the data stored at address (OFFSET4+3). Atstep S206 the y-coordinate position of the pattern of the part “eyes”corresponding to the pattern No. of the part “eyes” as the read displayscreen data is converted to a new y-position including the value of theformer y-coordinate position minus 1. Data on a pattern of the part“eyes” indicated by a part pattern No. corresponding to the value of thenew y-coordinate position (a lower position on the y-coordinateposition) is transferred to VRAM 9. As a result, a face image G2including the pattern of the part “eyes” having the lower position isdisplayed on the display 11.

After step S206 the current routine is terminated and control returns tothe main program.

When it is determined at step S202 that the up switch has beendepressed, control passes to step S208, where a pattern No. of the part“eyes” which is screen data is read, using as an address the data storedat address (OFFSET4+3). At step S210 the value of the y-coordinateposition of the pattern of the part “eyes” corresponding to the partpattern number for the “eyes” which is the read screen data is convertedto the value of the y-coordinate position plus 1. Data on a part patternof the part “eyes” indicated by the pattern number corresponding to theconverted value of the y-coordinate position (an upper position on they-coordinate axis) is transferred to the VRAM 9. As a result, a faceimage G2 which includes the pattern of the “eyes” whose position ischanged to the upper position on the y-coordinate axis is displayed onthe display 11.

Exiting step S210, control terminates the current routine and returns tothe main program.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart indicative of an age presumption switch interruptroutine. When the age presumption switch 17 is first depressed, controlpasses to that routine. First, at step S300 it is determined whether thedisplay flag is “1”. If not, it is determined that no face image isdisplayed, and control terminates the current routine and returns to themain program.

When the display flag is “1”, it is determined that the face image hasbeen displayed and step S302 and subsequent steps are executed. First,at step S302 face characteristic data is read which relates to thecontour of the face, data on which is stored at address (OFFSET4+2). Atstep S304 the aspect ratio of the face of the image created by themanual operation of the user is calculated on the basis of the read facecharacteristic data about the face contour. Since aspect ratio dataitems corresponding to the respective part patterns of the contour arestored beforehand, the aspect ratio of the face is calculated by readingthe stored aspect ratio data on the basis of the read characteristicdata about the face contour. The calculated value of the aspect ratio isstored in an A-register 23 in CPU 1. Data on the aspect ratio stored inthe A-register 23 becomes a first one of two input parameters in thefuzzy inference.

While in the particular embodiment the aspect ratio of the face of acreated face image is obtained by reading data on the aspect ratiosbeforehand stored and corresponding to the respective part patterns ofthe contour, it may be calculated instead by actually measuring on theface image the longitudinal length of the created face image (in thedirection of extension of a line connecting the top of the head and thepoint of the jaw) and its transverse width (in the direction ofextension of a line traversing the face).

In order to presume the age of the face by fuzzy inference on the basisof the position of the eyes of the face image under creation, coordinatedata indicative of the eye position designated by address data stored ataddress (OFFSET4+3) is read out at step S306. At step S308 data on theposition of the “eyes” in the created face image is obtained on thebasis of the read coordinate data indicative of the position of the“eyes”. The manner of obtaining data on the position of the “eyes” inthe created face image may be performed by measuring the position of the“eyes” actually on the appropriate face image unlike in the presentembodiment.

At step S310 the y-coordinate position value corrected by the operationof the position correction switch 16 is stored in a B-register 24 in CPU1. More particularly, the position of the “eyes” in the face image undercurrent creation is basically calculated with data on the position ofthe.“eyes” in the face image corresponding to address data on theposition of the “eyes” stored at address (OFFSET4+3). If the position ofthe “eyes” in the face image has then been corrected by the operation ofthe position correction switch 16, the position of the “eyes” in thecurrent face image is finally calculated in consideration of thecorrected value of the position of the “eyes”. Unless the positioncorrection switch 16 has been operated, the corrected value is “0” andnot corrected.

The value of the position of the “eyes” thus obtained is stored in theB-register 24 of CPU 1. The value of the position of the “eyes” storedin the B-register 24 is a second one of the two input parameters in thefuzzy inference.

Thus, the aspect ratio of a face and the position of its “eyes” whichare the two input parameters in the fuzzy inference are calculated.

A process for fuzzy inference at steps S312-S320 will be performed belowon the basis of the aspect ratio of the face and the position of its“eyes”, thus obtained.

First, at step S312 an operation for the above-mentioned fuzzy rule A isperformed on the basis of the obtained aspect ratio of the face and theobtained position of its “eyes”. Similarly, at steps S314, 316corresponding operations for the above-mentioned fuzzy rules B and C areperformed on the basis of the obtained aspect ratio of the face and theobtained position of its “eyes”. The detailed contents of the processesfor the fuzzy rules A, B and C will be described in subroutines to bedescribed later. Thus, the process for the protasis of the fuzzy rulesin the fuzzy inference is performed and the degrees of adaptability ofthe input values to the respective membership functions are calculated.

At step S318 the maximum value of data obtained in the rule operations(hereinafter referred to as a maximum value operation or an ORingprocess) is taken. At step S320 the barycenter of the data is calculatedfor defuzzification. Thus, a process for the apodosis of the fuzzy rulein the fuzzy inference is performed to provide presumed age data j ofthe created face image. The detailed contents of the maximum valueoperation and the barycenter operation will be explained in subroutinesto be described later.

At S322 the obtained presumed age data j is transferred to the VRAM 9and displayed on the display 11 (see FIGS. 27D and 27E). This causes thepresumed age data j of the face image G2 created by the user to bedisplayed rapidly and easily. Thus, the presumed age data j of the faceimage G2 created by the user and the actual age data z of the face imageG2 input by the user can be displayed in a contrastive state.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a fuzzy rule Aoperation process. First, at step S350 data (on the protosis of the ruleA) Da is read from the FL table of the membership function ROM 22 inwhich data on the membership function “the aspect ratio is large” isstored, using as an address the data (on the aspect ratio of the face)in the A-register 23. The data Da in this case corresponds to the degreeof adaptability of the membership function FL of FIG. 17A and has avalue in a range of 0-1.

The data Da is the degree of adaptability of the rule A to an inputvalue indicative of the aspect ratio of the face. The data Da is stored,for example, in another Da-register (not shown) in the CPU 1. Thisapplies also to data Sb to be described later.

Similarly, at step S352 data (on the protasis) Db is read from the ELtable of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on the membershipfunction “the position of the “eyes” is low” is stored, using as anaddress the data (on the position of the “eyes”) in the B-register 24.The data Db in this case corresponds to the degree of adaptability ofthe membership function EL of FIG. 17B and has a value in a range of0-1. That is, the data Db is the degree of adaptability of the rule A tothe input value indicative of the position of the “eyes”.

At step S354 it is determined whether data Da is equal to or larger thandata Db. If so, control passes to step S356, where the smaller one of Daand Db is employed as data D. In this case, D=Db.

This process includes an ANDing operation performed on the respectivedata items and corresponds to so-called obtaining the minimum value ofthe data items to thereby obtain a state in which both the input valuesare satisfied. Thus, the smaller one of data items Da and Db is employedas the determination which the rule A indicates in the current routine.When it is determined that Da<Db, control passes to step S358, whereD=Da is employed.

As described above, the two input values (of the aspect ratio and “eyes”position of a face) are evaluated for the rule A at the time of thedetermination to thereby obtain the degree of adaptability of theprotasis of the rule A. At

At step S360 the address pointer i is reset at “0”. At step S362 it isdetermined whether the value of the address pointer i is equal to theend address. If not, at the next step S364 data (on the apodosis) E isread from the YY table of the membership function ROM 22 in which dataon the membership function “the face is young-aged” is stored, using ias an address. The data E in this case corresponds to the degree ofadaptability of the membership function YY of FIG. 17C to the inputvalues and has a range of 0-1. The data E is stored, for example, inanother E-register (not shown) in CPU 1.

At step S366 data D and data E are compared. If it is determined thatD>E, control passes to step S368, where data E is written into the PAtable in the work RAM 8, using i as an address. If it is determined thatD≦E, control passes to step S370, where data D is written into the PAtable in the work RAM 8, using i as an address. As just described above,a process is performed in which the smaller value is employed to cut themembership function YY.

This process is a so-called head cutting process in which the membershipfunction YY as the latter condition section is cut in accordance withthe degree of adaptability of the protasis.

At step S372 the address pointer i is incremented by “1” and controlthen returns to step S362, where a similar process is iterated until theaddress pointer i is equal in value to the end address, at which timecontrol returns to an age presumption switch interrupt routine of FIG.21. By incrementing the value of the address pointer i to the endaddress, all the membership functions YY are searched.

Thus, the “head cutting process” depending on the degree of adaptabilityof the protasis is performed on the membership functions.

In this way, the operation of the fuzzy rule A is performed on the basisof the aspect ratio and eye position (input values) of the created faceimage to calculate the degree of adaptability of the input values to therule “if the aspect ratio of the face is large and the position of theeyes in the face is low, the face is young-aged”. The fuzzy inferencevalue “the face is young-aged” is obtained as the magnitude of thehead-cut membership function YY.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a fuzzy rule Boperating process. First, at step S400 data (on the protasis) Da is readfrom the FM table of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on themembership function “the aspect ratio is medium” is stored, using as anaddress the data (on the aspect ratio of the face) in the A-register 23.The data Da in this case corresponds to the degree of adaptability ofthe membership function FM of FIG. 17A and has a value in a range of0-1.

The data Da is the degree of adaptability of the rule B to the inputvalue indicative of the aspect ratio of the face. The data Da is stored,for example, in another Da-register (not shown) in the CPU 1. Thisapplies also to data Db to be described later.

Similarly, at step S402 data (on the protasis) Db is read from the EMtable of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on the membershipfunction “the position of the “eyes” is medium” is stored, using as anaddress the data (on the position of the “eyes”) in the B-register 24.The data Db in this case corresponds to the degree of adaptability ofthe membership function EM of FIG. 17B and has a value in a range of0-1. The data Db is the degree of adaptability of the rule A to theinput value indicative of the position of the “eyes”.

At step S404 it is determined whether data Da is equal to or larger thandata Db. If so, control passes to step S406, where the smaller one of Daand Db is employed as data D. In this case, D=Db.

This process includes an ANDing operation performed on the data itemsand corresponds to so-called obtaining the minimum value of the dataitems to thereby obtain a state in which both the input values aresatisfied. Thus, the smaller one of data items Da and Db is employed asthe determination which the rule B indicates in the current routine.When it is determined that Da<Db, control passes to step S408, whereD=Da is employed.

As described above, the two input values (of the aspect ratio of and the“eyes” position in the face) are evaluated for the rule B to therebyobtain the degree of adaptability of the protasis of the rule B.

At step S410 the address pointer i is reset at “0”. At step S412 it isdetermined whether the address pointer i is equal in value to the endaddress. If not, at the next step S414 data (on the apodosis) E is readfrom the YM table of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on themembership function “the face is middle-aged” is stored, using i as anaddress. The data E in this case corresponds to the degree ofadaptability of the membership function YM of FIG. 17C and has a rangeof 0-1. The data E is stored, for example, in another E-register (notshown) in CPU 1.

At step S416 data D and data E are compared. If it is determined thatD>E, control passes to step S418, where data E is written into the PBtable in the work RAM 8, using i as an address. If it is determined thatD≦E, control passes to step S420, where data D is written into the PBtable in the work RAM 8, using i as an address. As just described above,the process is performed in which the smaller value is employed to cutthe membership function YM.

This process is a so-called head cutting process in which the membershipfunction YM as the apodosis is cut in accordance with the degree ofadaptability of the protasis.

At step S422 the address pointer i is incremented by “1” and controlthen returns to step S412, where a similar process is iterated until theaddress pointer i is equal in value to the end address, at which timecontrol returns to the age presumption switch interrupt routine of FIG.21. By incrementing the address value of the address pointer i to theend address, the whole membership function YM is searched.

Thus, the “head cutting process” depending on the grade of the formercondition section is performed on the membership functions YM.

In this way, the operation of the fuzzy rule B “if the aspect ratio ofthe face is medium and the position of its eyes is medium, the face ismiddle-aged” is performed on the basis of the aspect ratio and eyeposition of the created face image to thereby calculate the degree ofthe fuzzy rule B to the input values. The fuzzy inference value “theface is middle-aged” is obtained as the magnitude of the head-cutmembership function YM.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a fuzzy rule Coperating process. First, at step S450 data (on the protasis) Da is readfrom the FS table of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on themembership function “the aspect ratio is smaller” is stored, using as anaddress the data (on aspect ratio of the face) in the A-register 23. Thedata Da in this case corresponds to the degree of adaptability of themembership function FS of FIG. 17A and has a value in a range of 0-1.

The data Da is the degree of adaptability of the rule C to the inputvalue indicative of the aspect ratio of the face. The data Da is stored,for example, in another Da-register (not shown) in the CPU 1. Thisapplies also to data Db to be described later.

Similarly, at step S452 data (on the protasis) Db is read from the EHtable of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on the membershipfunction “the position of the “eyes” is high” is stored, using as anaddress the data (on the position of the “eyes”) in the B-register 24.The data Db in this case corresponds to the degree of adaptability ofthe membership function EH of FIG. 17B and has a value in a range of0-1. The data Db is the degree of adaptability of the rule C to theinput value indicative of the position of the “eyes”.

At step S454 it is determined whether data Da is equal to or larger thandata Db. If so, control passes to step S456, where the smaller one of Daand Db is employed as data D. In this case, D=Db.

This process includes an ANDing operation performed on the data itemsand corresponds to so-called “obtaining the minimum value of the dataitems” to thereby obtain a state in which both the input values aresatisfied. Thus, the smaller one of data items Da and Db is employed asthe determination which the rule C indicates in the current routine.When it is determined that Da<Db, control passes to step S458, whereD=Da is employed.

As described above, the two input values (indicative of the aspect ratioand “eyes” position of a face) are evaluated for the rule C to therebyobtain the degree of adaptability to the protasis of the rule C.

At step S460 the address pointer i is reset at “0”. At step S462 it isdetermined whether the address pointer i is equal in value to the endaddress. If not, at the next step S464 data (on the apodosis) E is readfrom the YO table of the membership function ROM 22 in which data on themembership function “the face is old-aged” is stored, using i as anaddress. The data E in this case corresponds to the degree ofadaptability of the membership function YO of FIG. 17C and has a valuein a range of 0-1. The data E is stored, for example, in anotherE-register (not shown) in CPU 1.

At step S466 data D and data E are compared. If it is determined thatD>E, control passes to step S468, where data E is written into the PCtable in the work RAM 8, using i as an address. If it is determined thatD≦E, control passes to step S470, where data D is written into the PCtable of the work RAM 8, using i as an address. As just described above,the process is performed in which the smaller value is employed to cutthe membership function YO.

This process is a so-called head cutting process in which the membershipfunction YO as the apodosis is cut in accordance with the degree ofadaptability of the protasis.

At step S472 the value of the address pointer i is incremented by “1”and control then returns to step S462, where a similar process isiterated until the address pointer i is equal in value to the endaddress, at which time control returns to the age presumption switchinterrupt routine of FIG. 21. By incrementing the address value of theaddress pointer i until the end address is reached, all the membershipfunctions YO are searched.

Thus, the “head cutting process” depending on the degree of adaptabilityof the protasis is performed on the membership functions YO.

In this way, the operation of the fuzzy rule C is performed on the basisof the aspect ratio and eye position of the created face image tocalculate the degree of adaptability of the rule C to the rule “if theaspect ratio of the face is small and the position of the eyes in theface is high, the face is old-aged”. The fuzzy inference value “the faceis old-aged” is obtained as the magnitude of the head-cut membershipfunction YO.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine of a maximum valueoperating process. First, at step S500 the value of the address pointeri is reset at “0”. At step S502 data D1 is read from the PA memory ofthe work RAM 8, using as an address the value of the address pointer i.The data D1 is loaded on a D1-register (not shown).

The data D1 is the result of an operation for the fuzzy rule A and isobtained specifically as follows: First, the degree of adaptability ofthe rule A “if the aspect ratio of the face is large and the position ofthe eyes is low, the face is young-aged” to the input is calculated inthe routine of FIG. 22. D1 is then obtained from the head-cut membershipfunction YY on the basis of the degree of adaptability of te rule A.

At step S504 data D2 is read from the PB memory in the work RAM 8, usingas an address the value of the address pointer i and loaded on aD2-register (not shown). The data D2 is the result of an operation forthe fuzzy rule B and is obtained specifically as follows: First, thedegree of adaptability of the rule B “if the aspect ratio of the face ismedium and the position of the eyes is medium, the face is middle-aged”to the input is calculated in the routine of FIG. 23. D2 is thenobtained from the head-cut membership function ymon the basis of thedegree of adaptability of the rule B.

At step S506 data D3 is read from the PC memory in the work RAM 8, usingas an address the value of the address pointer i and loaded on aD3-register (not shown). The data D3 is the result of an operation forthe fuzzy rule C and is obtained specifically as follows: First, thedegree of adaptability of the rule C “if the aspect ratio of the face issmall and the position of the eyes is high, the face is old-aged” to theinput is calculated in the routine of FIG. 24. D3 is then obtained fromthe head-cut membership function YO on the basis of the degree ofadaptability of the rule C.

Then, at step S508 the maximum value of the respective data items D1-D3is determined, in accordance with the result of the determination ofwhich control passes to the appropriate one of steps S510, S512 andS514.

The reason for determination of the maximum value is to perform theORing operation on the results of inference for the respective fuzzyrules A-C for uniting purposes. The maximum value determining processcorresponds to a process for so-called “obtaining a maximum value”.

More specifically, the maximum value determining process satisfies arequest that any of the fuzzy rules A-C which would even a littleinfluence on a face image should be reflected on the evaluation of agepresumption, which is the basic way of thought related to the “ORinglogic”. This thought is to “obtain the sum” in a set theory. In thisembodiment, so long as at least one of the rules influences on the faceimage, it is handled as an object to be considered and the above processis performed.

At step S510 the contents (data D1) of the register D1 are written intothe PD memory of the work RAM 8, using the value of the address pointeri as an address. Thus, part of the head-cut membership function YY asthe result of the operation of the fuzzy rule A designated by the valueof the current address pointer i (i=0 in the first routine) is writteninto the PD memory.

As will be described later, by incrementing the value of the addresspointer i to the end address, the whole head-cut membership function YYis searched and written into the PD memory.

At step S512 the contents (data D2) of the register D2 are written intothe PD memory of the work RAM 8, using the value of the address pointeri as an address. Thus, part of the head-cut membership function YM asthe result of the operation of the fuzzy rule B designated by thecurrent value of the address pointer i is written into the PD memory.

Similarly, at step S514 the contents (data D3) of the register D3 arewritten into the PD memory of the work RAM 8, using the value of theaddress pointer i as an address. Thus, part of the head-cut membershipfunction YO as the result of the operation of the fuzzy rule Cdesignated by the current value of the address pointer i is written intothe PD memory.

At step S516 it is determined whether or not the address pointer isequal in value to the end address. If not, at the next step S518 theaddress pointer i is incremented by “1” and control then returns to stepS502. At step S516 the above process is iterated until the addresspointer i is equal in value to the end address, at which time controlreturns to the age presumption switch interrupt routine of FIG. 21.

By incrementing the value of the address pointer until the addresspointer i is equal in value to the end address, all the head-cutmembership functions YY, YM, YO are searched and written as data D4 intothe PD memory.

In this way, the ORing process for “obtaining a maximum value” isperformed to unite the respective results of the inference for the fuzzyrules A-C and the head-cut membership functions YY, YM, YO are ORed.That is, the maximum value operation process superposes the results ofthe inference of the respective fuzzy rules A-C to produce a maximumvalue output of the results.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart indicative of a subroutine for a barycentercalculation process. First, at step S550 the address pointer i, an arearegister AR and a barycenter register BR are set to “0”. The arearegister AR stores data on an area required for the barycentercalculation while the barycenter register BR stores a barycenter valueBV required for the barycenter calculation.

At step S552 data D4 is read from the PD memory of the work RAM 8, usingthe value of the address pointer i as an address. The data D4 is a partof the result of an ORing operation (using i as an address) on themembership functions YY, YM and YO the heads of which are cut, in themaximum value operation process. In other words, it is a part of anoutput data (expressed as an ORing function) including the superpositionof the results of the inference of-the respective fuzzy rules A-Csuperposed in the maximum value operating process.

This time, part of the output data from the PD memory is read, using i(i=0 in the first routine) as an address. As will be described later, byincrementing the value of the address pointer i sequentially until theend address, the whole output data is all searched and read.

At the next step S554 the value of the area register AR is incrementedby the value of the output data D4 read this time to calculate theintegrated value A of the areas.

At step S556 it is determined whether the address pointer i is equal invalue to the end address. If not, at the next step S558 the addresspointer i is incremented by “1” and control returns to step S552. Atstep S556 the above process is iterated until the address pointer i isequal in value to the end address, at which time control passes to stepS560.

By incrementing the address pointer i until the address pointer i isequal in value to the end address, the ORed output data of the head-cutmembership functions YY, YM, YO are all searched and read.

At step S560 data on the value of half of the integrated area A isstored as a barycenter value HAF in the barycenter register BR. Then atstep S562 j corresponding to the transverse axis of the ORing functionof the membership functions YY, YM, YO and the integrated area BAL areboth reset at “0”. Data items on the values of j and BAL are stored, forexample, in j- and BAL-registers (not shown), respectively.

At step S564 data D4 corresponding to the ORing function is read fromthe PD memory of the work RAM 8, using the transverse axis j as anaddress. At the next step S566 the value of the integrated area BAL isincremented by the value of the data D4 read this time to calculate theintegrated area BAL.

At step S568 the integrated area value BAL is compared with thebarycenter value HAF. When the integrated area BAL is determined to besmaller than the barycenter value HAF, control passes to step S570,where control increments the transverse axis value j, and returns tostep S564. At step S568 the above process is repeated until theintegrated area value BAL exceeds the barycenter value HAF, at whichtime control determines that the transverse axis value i is equal to thebarycenter value. Control then passes to step S572 where the transverseaxis value j is stored as a presumed age in the presumption age register25 of CPU 1 and control returns to the age presumption switch interruptroutine of FIG. 21.

In this way, the barycenter value of the ORing function is taken and adefuzzificating process in which the barycenter value is handled as arepresentative of the result of the ORing operation is performed tocalculate the whole conclusion in the inference process as one fixedvalue or, in this case, a presumed value of the age, which can bedisplayed as presumed age data j on the display 11, as shown in FIG.27D.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the age of aface image created by the operation of the cursor switch 3, the positioncorrection switch 16, etc., is desired to be known, the age presumptionswitch 17 is required to be operated to thereby detect facecharacteristic data (in this embodiment, the aspect ratio of the faceand the position of its “eyes”) corresponding to the created face image.Fuzzy inference is performed in conformity to the fuzzy rules A-C, usingthe values of the results of the detection as input parameters. Thus,the age of the created face image is presumed on the basis of theresults of the inference. Therefore, presumed age data j correspondingto the presumed age is displayed on the display 11 along with therespective already created face images G2, G3 and the actual beforehandinput age data z, as shown in FIGS. 27D and 27E.

Thus, the presumed age data j of the created face images G2 and G3 canbe presumed easily, as shown in FIGS. 27D and 27E, without requiring anyspecial skills. Also, as shown in FIGS. 27D and 27E, the actual age dataz inputted by the age data input switch 5 for the created face images G2and G3 is displayed along with the presumed age data j of the face imageF1 in a juxtaposed manner. Thus, data z on the actual age of the sameface image G2 and the presumed age data j presumed from the face imageF1 can be compared on the basis of the same face image G2. It can bedetermined on the basis of the result of the comparison whether theuser's or another's created face image looks young compared to hisactual age.

Since in the particular embodiment an age is presumed in fuzzyinference, no immense amount of process is required in the presumingoperation to thereby reduce the load of the operation. As a result, theoperation is easily performed by the existing CPU. Thus, a high-gradefunction age presuming device is realized at low cost.

In the above embodiment, the cursor switch 3 is first operated to selectpart patterns stored in the part pattern ROM M7. An image is created bya combination of those part patterns. Thereafter, the position of anypart pattern is, for example, corrected by the operation of the positioncorrection switch 16 as required to finish the face image. Facecharacteristic data such as the aspect ratio of the completed face imageand the position of its eyes are detected on the basis of that completedface image. Fuzzy inference is performed on the basis of the detectedface characteristic data to thereby presume the age of the face image.Alternatively, for example, data on the face image picked up by a CCDcameral 20 may be stored temporarily in the face image RAM 21, facecharacteristic data such as the aspect ratio of the face and theposition of its eyes may be detected on the basis of the stored faceimage data; and fuzzy inference is performed on the basis of the facecharacteristic data to presume the age of the face image.

While in the above embodiment face characteristic data indicative of theaspect ratio of a pre-created face image and the position of its eyesare used as input parameters for the fuzzy inference to presume the ageof the face image in the fuzzy inference, other face characteristic datasuch as the number of wrinkles on the face and the degree of upwardprogress of retreat of the border of the hair (degree of upward baldnessof the head) may be used as input parameters for the fuzzy inference.

While in the embodiment the fuzzy inference is realized by software,using CPU 1 and the membership function ROM 22, it may be realized byhardware, using a fuzzy chip, for example.

The value of the membership function used in the fuzzy inference may beset appropriately depending on a face image as a target, facecharacteristic data, etc., to thereby improve the accuracy of the agepresumption.

Fuzzy inference may be performed, using beforehand prepared membershipfunction ROMs corresponding to respective faces for sexes, human races,and eras, to presume the respective ages of created face images for thesexes, human races and eras from their face images.

While in the embodiment the age of a face image created by the user ispresumed, using the face image, it may be presumed using the alreadyrecorded face image.

Another person's created face image may be recorded as individual's dataalong with the age presumed in the process in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 27A through 27E, while in the above embodiment theface images G1-G3 created by the user, actual age data z, and presumedage data j are displayed on the display 11, they may be printed by aprinter 13 along with or in place of the display of the respective faceimages.

The face images G1-G3 created by the user, actual age data z, andpresumed age data j may be recorded in a storage such as a RAM alongwith individual's data (names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.)related to the face images G1-G3.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, fuzzy inferenceis executed on the basis of the displayed face image. As a result, dataon the age of the face image is output. Thus, the age of the displayedface image can be presumed easily and rapidly without requiring anyspecial skills.

Generally, although we have ability to roughly predict a person's age byviewing his face, we sometimes want to objectively confirm whether ourfaces are close/greatly remote in age to/from an average person's facefrom a view point of management of out health. In criminalinvestigation, the age of a criminal is often desired to be presumedfrom his photomontage composed by a witness of the criminal toeffectuate an arrest of the criminal actually. According to thisinvention, the age of a created face image can be presumed objectivelyand rapidly from the face image. Also, according to this invention, theresult of comparison of the presumed and actual ages is easily known.

What is claimed is:
 1. An animal or human being image display controldevice which sequentially displays an animal or human being image ondisplay means, the device comprising: storage means for previouslystoring an image of the animal or human being and an age associatedtherewith; first display control means for displaying said image andsaid age stored in said storage means on said display means; a timecounter for counting time; writing means for sequentially updating theage on the basis of a lapse of time counted by said time counter, andwriting the updated age into said storage means; second display controlmeans for controlling said display means so as to sequentially displaythe updated age written by said writing means; and third display controlmeans for changing said image stored in said storage means to an imageof the animal or human being on the basis of the updated age displayedby said second display control means, and for controlling said displaymeans so as to display the changed image.
 2. The animal or human beingimage display control device according to claim 1, wherein the timecounter counts the current time; and the writing means updates the ageon the basis of both the current time counted by said time counter andpredetermined reference data.
 3. The animal or human being image displaycontrol device according to claim 1, wherein the time counter counts alapse of time; and the writing means updates the age of the basis of thelapse of time counted by said time counter.
 4. The animal or human beingimage display control device according to claim 1, wherein said storagemeans and said display means are coupled to said first, second and thirddisplay control means.
 5. The animal or human being image displaycontrol device according to claim 1, further comprising: an externallyoperable switching section which is operable by a user, and wherein saidsecond display control means is responsive to said externally operableswitching section being operated for controlling said display means soas to display the age stored in said storage means.
 6. The animal orhuman being image display control device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an externally operable switching section which is operableby a user; and wherein said third display control means is responsive tosaid externally operable switching section being operated for changingthe image stored in said storage means to an image of the animal orhuman being corresponding to the updated age and for controlling saiddisplay means so as to display the changed image.
 7. The animal or humanbeing image display control device according to claim 1, wherein saidstorage means comprises a semiconductor memory.
 8. The animal or humanbeing image display control device according to claim 1, wherein saiddisplay means comprises a liquid crystal display for displaying withliquid crystals the image stored in said storage means.
 9. The animal orhuman being image display control device according to claim 1, whereinsaid animal or human being image comprises a plurality of combined partimages.
 10. An animal or human being image display method for displayingan animal or human being image on display means, the method comprising:a first display control step of controlling storage means for storingthe animal or human being image and an age associated therewith, anddisplaying the image and said age stored in said storage means on saiddisplay means; a time counting step of counting time; a writing step ofupdating the age on the basis of time counted by said time countingstep, and writing the updated age into said storage means; a seconddisplay control step of controlling said display means so as tosequentially display the updated age written by said writing step; and athird display control step of changing said image stored in said storagemeans to an image of the animal or human being on the basis of theupdated age displayed by said second display control step, andcontrolling said display means so as to display the changed image. 11.The animal or human being image display method according to claim 10,wherein a current time is counted by said time counting step; and saidage is updated on the basis of both the current time counted by saidtime counting step and predetermined reference data.
 12. The animal orhuman being image display method according to claim 10, wherein a lapseof time is counted by said time counting step; and said age is updatedon the basis of the lapse of time counted by said time counting step.13. A computer readable recording medium storing a program fordisplaying an animal or a human being image on display means, theprogram making a computer; control storage means in which the animal orhuman being image and an age associated therewith to display the imageand age on said display means; count time; sequentially update the agein accordance with the counted time, and write the updated age to saidstorage means; sequentially display the written age each time the age isupdated; and change the image stored in said storage means on the basisof the displayed age, and display the changed image on said displaymeans.